Tandem slider units



Dec. 19, 1944. H. MORIN 2,365,578

TANDEM SLIDER UNIT Filed April 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1944. L. H. MORlN TANDEM SLIDER UNIT Filed April 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Q a Q Q mm um Patented Dec. 19, 1944 TALDEM SLIDER UNITS LouisH. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Davis Marinsky, Bronx, N. Y.

Application April 1, 1943, Serial No. 481,392

19 Claims.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through part of what is termed the lower turret of an airplane showing the tandem slider units in one position in the turret. I

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in a position substantially at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1 and showing other parts in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The invention deals with the mounting of two slider units on a pair of stringers and in coupling these units together to maintain predetermined spaced relationship of the units in jointly operating along the stringers in order to provide between the stringers two definitely spaced openings. Each unit comprises a body having a pair of sliders movably coupled with end portions thereof so as to separate the stringers in forming said openings, the units having means retaining the stringers in spaced relationship to each other.

In the adaptation of the invention, which is herein illustrated, the fastener is shown applied to what is commonly referred to as a lower turret of an airplane. The one slider unit has a pivoted sleeve or tube for receiving the barrel of a gun arranged in the turret and projecting therethrough, whereas the other unit forms a large discharge opening united with the shell discharge of the gun througha bellows 'or other flexible wall structure to automatically dispense shells ejected from the gun. It will be understood at this time, however, that the illustration in the accompanying drawings is simply one adaptation of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, l represents the wall structure of the lower turret of an airplane which is generally of a large radius curvature but terminates in one end in a rather sharp bend Ii in extending to a straight wall portion l2. In the walls H), II and I2 is formed a long slot or opening l3, note Figs. 3 and 4, through whicn the barrel l4 of a gun is movable longitudinally and two extreme positions of the gun barrel are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. At i5 is shown an ejector chute on the gun it or the stock thereof, as diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings. The empty shells are ejected from the gun through the chute or tube IS in the automatic operation thereof.

Two slider units l1 and [8 are provided to form within the boundaries of two separable stringers I9 apertures or openings in the slot' l3 for the barrel I4 and for the discharge of the cartridge shells. The two units I1 and 18 are coupled or linked together by a link or rod 20 pivoted to the unit l1, as seen at 2|, and to the unit I8,

as seen at 22. The pivots at 2| and-22 are so The unit I! comprises similar side portions 23 pivoted together. as seen at 24, and on the pivots are arranged rollers 25 which operate along track or runway plates 26 secured to the turret body at bordering edges of the opening i3by fasteners 21. Secured to the pivot pins 24 is an elongated sleeve or tube 28 which has a pivotal mounting in the overlapped pivoted ends 29 of the parts 23, thus the barrel of the gun is free to rock on the pivots 24, as will be apparent. At the ends of the parts 23 are pivoted sliders 3|] which are reversely arranged so as to maintain the links 3i of the stringers IS in coupled relationship beyond the limits of the unit IT. This is also true of the sliders 32 pivoted to the ends of the unit l8, as will clearly appear from a. consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings. 3

The pivot of the separate parts 23 of the unit H, as at 24, provides free flexing of the parts within the limits of the tube or sleeve 28 in the passage of the unit II around sharp comers, as at H, in the movement of the unit I! from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and vice versa. The unit l8; in maintaining a position on the slightly curved wall Ill of the turret, comprises an elongated rigid body 2 33 preferably having a slight curvature and this body has an elongated opening 34 therein which extends inwardly in the form of a tube 35 having an enlarged or flared end 35,

coupled one end of a bellows 31, the other end of which is coupled with the tubular discharge l5.

- The dischar e i5 is in the form of an attachment togthe gun stock and a suitable bracket 38 is employed for mounting the tube i 5 on the body i portion or stock Id of the gun. Pivoted 'to oppo site sides of the enlarged portion 35 of the tube 3%, asindicated at 33, are reinforcing rods 4!! which have a sliding mounting in L-shaped guide plates M at opposite sides of the tube H5. The

,, rods 50 serve to maintain definite alinement o f the tubes i5 and 35cm with respect to the other while permitting of the expansion and contraction of the bellows 31, as will appear from a comparison of-Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

,"I'he ends of the body '33 of the unit l8 are contracted, as seenat -62. At two of these contracted ends are pivoted the sliders 32. The side walls of the body 33 are of channeledcross sec tional form, as seen at $3 in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the channels serving to'form housings for the links or scoops 3| when separated in spanning the tube 35. The'stringers l9 comprise the usual tapes to which the links 3! are directly attached which simplifies the production of the stringers and supplemental tapes dd attached thereto, the

latter having eyelets 63, through which the fastoning devices?! pass. Thus the attachment of ment of the tandem units 57 and it regardless of the weather conditions to which the device may be subjected.

Considering Fig. 2 oithe drawings,'it will appear that the pivots of the coupling link 28 to the unit H at El and the unit it at 22 are at substantially equaldistances from the line of travel of the stringers which maintains a relationship substantially paralleling the curvature of the'- turret wall, particularly when the partsare in the position shown in Fig. -1. This arrangement and relationship of pivots maintain a free and easy movement of the units on the stringers, particularly in passing the unit ll over-the sharp curve H andonto the straight wall portion H2. The rollers'25 of the unit ll' provid a more or less frictionless guide and support for the unit ll inthe movement over the rails or runways 26, and alsdprovide the desired bearing when the separate parts 23 swing on relatively to theother on the pivots 25,'when the unit 11 passes around the curve or sharp bend ll.

'It will also be noted that sufilcient flexibility is provided in the tapes-of the stringers l9, as well as in the tapes 4;, to allow for lateral expansion-of the stringers in passing the tubular portions'28 and 35, as well as to compensate for relative movement of the sliders 3t when the separate parts 23 move on the pivots 2d.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that in operating the gun in any position along the opening l3, as each bulletis fired, the shell 05 4 To the end 35 is.

' tial movement may prevail between the units I1- bullet is automatically elected and discharged through the tube IS, the bellows 31 and finally, through the opening 34. It will also be understood that in some instances, particularly when the units I'I and I8 travel from the .position of Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 1, a slight difleren and I8 but as-each unit is capable of operating 'separately on the stringers l3, this diflerential movement is of no consequence, and in fact, where I The links or scoops 31 of the stringers I3 are only diagrammatically shown in the present illustration, but they will be of the type shown, for example, in my application Ser.. No. 444,189, filed May 23,.1942, now Patent No. 232253715- ,su'ed .June 22, 1943, or, in other words, links or scoops of what I term the double action type having common opposed side portion and coupling elements, so that sliders mounted in reverse position with respect to each other, such for example as the sliders 3B and .the sliders 32, will operate freely along the stringers. This is not commercially practical with links or scoops of the old conventional type having male couplings on one side and female couplings on the other side, nor in fact, with any scoops which do not have a free double action coupling engagement.

It will, of course, be apparent that the stringer 83 control the full length' of the opening I3 formed in the turret. body in closing this opening,

except wherethe units H and [8 are positioned thereon by virtue of the movement of the gun in the turret, so that the units may be said, to constitute a pair of members defining and maintaining spaced openings along the stringers oiseparable fasteners and in shifting the openings to diiferent positions along the stringers. Y

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. The combination with a gun turret having an elongated gun slot therein,,of separable fastener stringers mounted on the turret and closing the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers, one unit forming an opening for thepassage of the gun barrel therethrough, the other unit having a shell dispensing openin therein, and means coupling said units to operatein tandem in maintaining predetermined positions of said openings along thestringers in the movement of the gun barrel longitudinally of the slot in said turret.

2.. The combinationwith a gun turret having v an elongated gun slot therein, of separable fastener stringers mounted on the turret and closin the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers, one unit forming an opening for the passage of the gun barrel therethrough, the other unit having a shell forming an opening for the passage of the gun barrel therethrough, the other unit having a shell dispensing opening therein, means coupling said units to operate in tandem in maintaining predetermined positions of said openings along the stringers in the movement of the gun barrel 1ongitudinally of the slotin said turret, each of said units having a pair of sliders movably supported thereon maintaining the stringer closed beyond the limits of said units, one of said units comprising relatively movableparts for shifting positions of the sliders of said unit, and said last mentioned unit including a tubular portion pivoted within the unit. r

4. The combination with a gun turret having an elongated gun slot therein, of separable fastener stringers mounted on the turret and closing the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers, one unit forming an opening for the passage of the gun barrel therethrough, the other unit having an opening therein, means coupling said units to operate in tandem in maintaining predetermined positions of said openings along the stringers in the movement of the gun barrel longitudinally of the slot in said turret, each of-said units having a pair of sliders ,movably supported thereon maintaining the stringer closed beyond the limits of said units, one of said units comprising relatively movable parts for shifting positions of the sliders or said unit, said last mentioned unit including a tubular portion pivoted within the unit, and the other unit having a flexible tubular body forming a shell dispensing discharge communieating with'the opening of said last mentioned unit.

5. The combination with separable fasteners employing stringers, of a slider unit movable along the stringers, said unit comprising a hollow body, sliders at opposite end portions of said body coupling the stringers beyond the limits of said body and separating the stringers within the vices comprising a hollow body having spaced sliders thereon for separating the stringers within the boundaries of said body.

7. The combination with a separable fastener employing stringers, of two slider devices arranged in wide spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, means coupling said devices to provide collective and independent movement of the devices on the stringers, and each of said devices comprising a hollow body having spaced sliders thereon for separating the stringers within the boundaries of said body.

8. The combination with a separable fastener employing stringers, of two slider devices arranged in wide spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, means coupling said devices to provide collective and independent movement of the devices on the stringers, each of said devices comprising a hollow body having spaced sliders thereon for separating the stringers within the boundaries of said body, and one of said hollow bodies being composed of hingedly coupled parts.

9. The combination with a separable fastener employing stringers, of two slider devices arranged in wide spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, means coupling said devices to provide collective and independent movement of the devices on the stringers, each of said devices comprising a hollow body having spaced sliders thereon for separating the stringers within the boundaries of said body, and one of said bodies having a flexible tube coupled therewith.

10. The combination with a separable fastener employing stringers, of two slider devices arranged in wide spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, means: coupling said devices to provide collective and independent movement of the devices on the stringers, eachof said devices comprising a hollow body having spaced sliders thereon for separating the stringers within the boundaries of said body, one of said bodies having a flexible tube coupled therewith, and means for reinforcing the mounting of said flexible tube in connection with a support.

11. A slider unit for separable fastener stringers, said unit comprising a hollow body, sliders movably coupled with end portions of said body for coupling the stringers beyond the limits of said body while separating the stringers within the limits of said body, means on said body supporting the separated stringers beyond and adjacent the limits of the opening of said hollow body, and a flexible tubular member projecting from one side surface of said hollow body and forming a passage communicating with the opening of said hollow body.

' 12. A slider unit for separable fastener stringers, said unit comprising a hollow body, sliders movably coupled with end portions of said body for coupling the stringers beyond the limits of saidbody while separating the stringers within the limits of said body, means on said body supporting the separated stringers beyond and adjacent the limits of the opening of said hollow body, a flexible tubular member projecting from one side surface of said hollow body and formprising stringers for closing the major portion of said slot, two slider.units movable longitudinally of the stringers and arranged in spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, each of said, units having an opening therein, means on each unit for separating the stringers at the opening of the associated unit, and means for coupling said units for collective and independent movement along the stringers.

14. The combination with a support having an elongated slot therein and tracks on bordering edges of said slot, of a separable fastener comprising stringers for closing the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers and arranged in spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, each of said units having an opening therein, means on each unit for separating the stringers at the opening of the associated unit, means for coupling said units for collective and independent movementalong the stringers, and one of said units having means engaging the tracks of said support to guide said unit in its movement longitudinally of said slot.

15. The combination with a support having an elongated slot, therein and tracks on bordering edges of said slot, of a-separable fastener comprising stringers for closing the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers and arranged in spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, each of said units having an opening therein, means on each unit for separating the stringers at the opening of the associated unit, means for coupling said units for collective and independent movement along the stringers, one of said units having means engaging the tracks of said support to guide said'unit in its movement longitudinally of said slot, and said last named unit being composed of hingedly coupled parts.

16. The combination with a support having an elongated slot therein and tracks on bordering edges of said slot, of a separable fastener comprising stringers for closing the major portion of said slot, two slider units movable longitudinally of the stringers and arranged in spaced relationship to each other on the stringers, each of said units having an opening therein, means on each unit for separating the stringers at the opening of the associated unit, means for coupling said units for collective and independent movement along the stringers, and saidlast named means being pivotally coupled with both units I at substantially equally spaced distances from the track of said support. r

17. A dual slider mechanism for separable fasteners including stringers, said mechanism comprising two slider units, each unit comprising a hollow body, means on each unit for separating the stringers within the limits of said body to clear the opening therein, and means movably coupling said units for collective and independent movement along the stringers of separable fasteners:

18. A dual slider mechanism for separable fasteners including stringers, said mechanism comprising two slider units, each unit comprising a hollow body, means on each unit for separating the stringers within the limits of said body to clear the opening therein, means movably coupling said units for collective and independent movement along the stringers of separable fasteners, and one of said units having a flexible tube extending therefrom and registering with 

